Two terrific pitching performances were instrumental in Grand Valley State earning a solid home sweep over non-conference foe Lewis on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 28). In the Lakers' 2017 home opener, GVSU earned a late 1-0 game one victory before completing the sweep with an 8-0 mercy rule shutout in the nightcap. Sophomore righty Allison Lipvosky and senior lefty Ellie Balbach stifled the Lewis bats, allowing a combined seven hits in 12 innings in the circle on Tuesday.

It was a strong outing for Grand Valley State, which improves to 11-13 with the twinbill sweep. Lewis, a regional opponent from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), drops to 18-11 after the pair of losses. The teams previously met on Mar. 10 in Clermont, Fla., as the Lakers notched a 3-2 victory over the Flyers with a walk-off solo homer from senior Jenna Lenza. In game one on Tuesday, Lenza delivered the game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning, then provided the big blow - a bases-clearing three-run double - in the five-run fourth inning of the nightcap.

Game One (W, 1-0)

Lipovsky and Lewis righthander Dara Sanders were locked into a pitchers' duel in the opening game on Tuesday. The Flyers' leadoff hitter singled to start the game and moved to third base on a pair of sacrifice bunts, but Lipovsky induced a groundout to escape trouble. Lenza and Balbach tallied consecutive singles in the home half of the frame, but Lenza was thrown out while trying to get to third base on Balbach's single.

Both teams were retired in order in the second inning, while Lewis had its best shot at scoring in the third. After a leadoff error and a one-out double to right center, the Flyers had two runners in scoring position with one out. An infield bunt single loaded the bases, but did not bring in the runner from third base. Lipovsky buckled down and forced an infield popup and a groundout to leave the bases juiced.

Lewis put the leadoff runner on base in the fourth with a bunt single, but Lipovsky set down the next three Flyers on a strikeout, flyout, and popup. With a runner on third and two outs in the fifth inning, Laker right fielder Tanner Kiessel made a nice sliding catch near the foul line to end the inning.

There was still no score when GVSU came to bat in the sixth inning. Senior Janae Langs singled through the left side and was still on first base with two outs. She then stole second base for her third theft of the year. That ended up being a huge play for the Lakers. With a 1-2 count, Lenza took an inside pitch and appealed to the umpire that the ball hit her, but he disagreed and she remained in the box. Now with a 2-2 count, the senior ripped a single to center field and Langs raced around and scored what would be the game's only run.

Lipovsky walked the leadoff Flyer batter in the seventh inning, but struck out the next batter, notched an out on a fielder's choice, and left fielder Kayla Plastiak made a fine running catch near the left field line to preserve the shutout and end the game.

In moving to 4-2 on the year, Lipovsky tossed a complete game four-hit gem. She threw 101 pitches, allowed just the seventh inning free pass, and struck out four Flyers. It was her sixth complete game of the year and third shutout. For Lewis, Sanders dropped to 13-2, as she gave up one run on five hits, while striking out six.

Lenza was the lone Laker with multiple hits, as she went 2-for-3. GVSU outhit Lewis 5-4, but the Flyers had the game's only extra base hit - a double in the third inning.

Game Two (W, 8-0)

After scoring in their final at-bat in game one, the Lakers pushed two runs across in the first inning of game two. Langs led off with a single and junior Teagan Shomin was hit by a pitch. Lenza laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up a base. Two batters later, sophomore Shannon Flaherty blooped a two-run double in between three Lewis fielders in right center field, as Langs and Shomin both scored easily for a 2-0 lead.

Balbach retired seven straight batters at one point, including a 1-2-3 second frame. The Flyers recorded back-to-back two-out singles in the third inning to put a runner in scoring position. Catcher Sarah DeMasi ripped a line drive back up the middle that center fielder Langs came in and made a diving catch to end the frame.

Langs led off the bottom of the third inning by ripping a triple to left center field on the first pitch of the at-bat, sliding head first for the three-bagger. Shomin's groundout promptly scored Langs for the 3-0 cushion.

Balbach notched a pair of strikeouts in the fourth inning and the Lakers provided her with all the run support she would need in the home half of the frame. Flaherty and Kiessel collected consecutive singles to open the inning. A four-pitch walk to junior catcher Jessica Ramos loaded the bases with one out. Senior Kelsey Dominguez followed with an RBI single back up the middle for the 4-0 lead. Langs then worked a bases-loaded walk for the fifth run of the game.

Two batters later, Lenza delivered a three-run double to right center field, clearing the bases and scoring pinch runner Plastiak, Dominguez, and Langs for the 8-0 advantage. It was already the 12th double of the year for Lenza and the 47th of her career, moving her into third place all-time in GVSU history and breaking a tie with former Laker Emily Jones, who collected 46 two-baggers from 2010-13.

Another 1-2-3 inning from Balbach included a pair of strikeouts, including a swinging K for the final out of the game. In moving to 2-6 on the year, the lefty tossed a three-hit shutout, walking one and striking out four batters on just 69 pitches.

Langs and Flaherty each went 2-for-4, as Langs tripled and scored three times and Flaherty doubled and drove in a pair of runs. Lenza's three RBI came on her clutch two-bagger.

GVSU outhit the Flyers in game two, 7-3, and owned three extra-base hits. The mercy rule victory took just 65 minutes to complete.

Grand Valley State gets back into conference play this weekend. On Saturday (Apr. 1), the Lakers travel to face Hillsdale at 1:00 p.m. before squaring off with Wayne State on Sunday (Apr. 2) at noon. GVSU and Wayne State - the preseason GLIAC favorites - met up in the 2016 Midwest Super Regional championship series in Detroit, with the Lakers winning the first two games of the series to advance to the College World Series in Denver, Colo.